PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (ranked 2598 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robin Gracie (ranked 955 p4p, 114 weight class). Gracie has chosen Olha a Explosão as his entrance music. Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni
vs
Gracie

170 cm
27
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

168 cm
26
152 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Robin Gracie!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Buonarroti Simoni.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie prevents Buonarroti Simoni from improving his position.
Buonarroti Simoni is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Buonarroti Simoni wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Buonarroti Simoni defending well.
Buonarroti Simoni desperately trying to maintain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie wants to control but Buonarroti Simoni is keeping him busy.
Gracie is pressing down on Buonarroti Simoni's thigh, looking to free his foot. Buonarroti Simoni is holding on for now.
Gracie has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Yaw-Yan Ardigma. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Buonarroti Simoni is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buonarroti Simoni trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Buonarroti Simoni is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Buonarroti Simoni is doing well to control the position and prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Buonarroti Simoni looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Buonarroti Simoni is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie is thwarting Buonarroti Simoni's attempts to control the position.
Buonarroti Simoni is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Buonarroti Simoni is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Buonarroti Simoni avoid being mounted?
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Buonarroti Simoni defends it.
Buonarroti Simoni is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Buonarroti Simoni desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Buonarroti Simoni has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Robin Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie swings widly with a right hand
and Buonarroti Simoni counters with a leg kick.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Buonarroti Simoni fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gracie just manages to avoid it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie checks the leg kick nicely there.
Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Buonarroti Simoni dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!
Nice sprawl there from Buonarroti Simoni as Gracie shoots in.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Buonarroti Simoni uses good head movement to avoid it.
Buonarroti Simoni misses with a straight right.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gracie misses with a hook
and Buonarroti Simoni counters with a good low kick that Gracie was not able to check.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Buonarroti Simoni counters with an outside leg kick.
Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robin Gracie.
Buonarroti Simoni looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Buonarroti Simoni lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gracie has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gracie and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Buonarroti Simoni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Buonarroti Simoni throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.
Gracie swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Buonarroti Simoni counters with a low kick, right behind Gracie 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a hook to the body
and Buonarroti Simoni counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gracie throws a hook but Buonarroti Simoni avoids it easily.
Buonarroti Simoni throws a quick counter kick to the body but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie throws a body punch but Buonarroti Simoni moves out of range.

Gracie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Buonarroti Simoni on his heels. He'll look to pass Buonarroti Simoni's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Buonarroti Simoni is keeping the position for now.
Gracie keeps trying to improve his position.
Buonarroti Simoni has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.
Buonarroti Simoni continues to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robin Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Buonarroti Simoni throws a front kick aimed at Gracie's knee but Gracie avoids it well.
Buonarroti Simoni throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Good work by Gracie as he checks the leg kick.
Gracie tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gracie throws a lazy uppercut
and Buonarroti Simoni counters with an outside leg kick.
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Buonarroti Simoni sprawls well. Buonarroti Simoni wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Buonarroti Simoni fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gracie just manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buonarroti Simoni tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Buonarroti Simoni counters with a nice leg kick.
Gracie misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Buonarroti Simoni makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Buonarroti Simoni is predictable there

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Buonarroti Simoni is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Buonarroti Simoni trying to control here.
Buonarroti Simoni is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Buonarroti Simoni wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has passed into side control.
Gracie working away.
Buonarroti Simoni is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Buonarroti Simoni is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Buonarroti Simoni's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Buonarroti Simoni, who protects the arm well.
What's Buonarroti Simoni going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Buonarroti Simoni is defending well.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buonarroti Simoni is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Buonarroti Simoni is defending well.
Buonarroti Simoni is trying to get back to half guard.
Buonarroti Simoni struggling a bit here.
Buonarroti Simoni knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Buonarroti Simoni is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Robin Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Buonarroti Simoni is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Buonarroti Simoni knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buonarroti Simoni is trying to improve his position.
Gracie working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robin Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Buonarroti Simoni throws a leg kick that is checked

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Buonarroti Simoni didn't expect that.
Buonarroti Simoni looking to control but Gracie passes into half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Buonarroti Simoni defends it well.
Buonarroti Simoni has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buonarroti Simoni is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Buonarroti Simoni controlling the position for now.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Buonarroti Simoni is defending it quite comfortably.
Buonarroti Simoni wants to control but Gracie passes into side.
You can see the frustration on Buonarroti Simoni's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Buonarroti Simoni is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Buonarroti Simoni prevents Gracie from improving position.
Buonarroti Simoni tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Buonarroti Simoni controls the position for a moment.
Buonarroti Simoni is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Buonarroti Simoni has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Buonarroti Simoni wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Buonarroti Simoni is looking to reverse the position.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Buonarroti Simoni has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Buonarroti Simoni knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Robin Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Buonarroti Simoni can't do much from the bottom here.
Buonarroti Simoni striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buonarroti Simoni is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robin Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Robin Gracie!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Robin Gracie!
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Robin Gracie!

Robin Gracie wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Robin Gracie thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.